Tired of breaking down large boxes and cramming the cardboard into your recycle bin or having to drive to the dump to get rid of your car's battery or office equipment?  

Then why not let WECYCLE IT, a mobile recycling company in Kootenai County, do it for you?  

“We started the business in January," Doug Cannon said. “The garage at our home in Post Falls was full of plastic bags and moving boxes — Costco boxes and Amazon boxes. My wife, Carey, and I were looking at them and scratching our heads, thinking this was a pain point. And if it’s a pain point for us, it must be a pain point for others.”  

So, Doug started talking to some business owners he knew, explaining the concept of his mobile recycling business.  

“They weren’t aware of any business that comes out and picks up recycling items that are hard to get rid of, other than waste management,” he said. “Things like car batteries — plastic bags — tires and wheels — boxes — basic junk removal.”  

Doug said he researched EPA standards for the items Kootenai County Solid Waste accepts at its refuse disposal sites and tailored his business accordingly.

He said Carey came up with the name for the business.  

“She’s so artistic,” Doug said. “I was kicking around the word cycle — and Carey said — ‘that sounds like a cycling shop — what about we cycle it.’ She’s amazing — she’s my rock.”’  

Carey said she wasn’t surprised there would be a need for the service she and Doug offer.  

“Not everyone has a car big enough to take a bunch of cardboard and other packing materials to the dump — and may even wonder if it’s all recyclable," Carey said. So — where does it go — probably shoved into trash bins.”  

They believe their business is unique.

“My insurance agent underwriters scoured the country and couldn't find any business like this that exists — one that was specific to what I'm doing,” Doug said.

WECYCLE IT is currently providing mobile services in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Hayden and Rathdrum.  

“People have asked me about other areas within Kootenai County,” Doug said. “So, if folks need some help who live in Cougar Gulch or what have you, we can have a conversation with them.”  

WECYCLE IT is basically a one-man operation at this point, though Doug said Carey has lent a big hand in getting the business off the ground. But that could change if business warrants it. 

“My banker — and a couple of other people have asked me if this is something I'd be willing to franchise,” Doug said. “If business takes off like we hope it does, we’d be open to it.”  

Rates for his services start at $25.  

“That’s for half a trailer load — my trailer is 7-foot by 14-foot. The rate increases to $50 for a full trailer load," Doug said. "I show up with the Sawzall blade on a DeWalt, a bunch of knives and start cutting boxes and folding them in plastic bags and loading them into the trailer. It’s fully enclosed, so nothing blows out on the freeway.”  

As the business succeeds, one of Doug's goals is to give back to the community he loves.  

“The people in Coeur d’ Alene have been great to me,” Doug said. "After multiple surgeries resulting from being T-boned at Northwest Boulevard and Ironwood in June of 2021, I'm now at a point where I can work with my hands again and start this business. Man, it feels great."  

Doug's printer at Allegra Printing gave him an idea on how he could achieve his goal.

“Joel told us that if we can get 500 pounds of plastic bags and get them to Trux Decking, they can make a park bench out of them, and we could donate it to a Cub Scout or Girl Scout group.”  

WECYCLE IT operates Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are several ways to reach Doug to schedule a pick-up.  

“We have a Facebook page that we're moving forward with — and Hagadone Technologies is developing a website for us — www.wecycleit.com — which should be going live soon,” Doug said. 

Info: [email protected] and 208-277-8722.

Now the TidBits

New and Upcoming

• River & Rye will be opening soon at 424 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d'Alene. The menu will include "various flavors from Spain, France and Italy, along with some PNW flair," as well as craft cocktails. River & Rye is a new concept from Crickets Bar's ownership, which has reopened in the back of the restaurant space, with an entrance on Fifth Street. Crickets' is currently open Thursday through Sunday.

• Sneva Affordable Cars, 2929 N. Government Way, has closed.

• Jitterz Espresso is coming to Athol, with crews breaking ground earlier this week at the corner of East Howard and Athol Crossing Road, near Dollar Tree and Grease Monkey/Monkey Shine Car Wash.

• Grain & Gather Mercantile is a new boutique at 6288 N. Government Way, Dalton Gardens. Offerings include furniture, home decor, apparel, apothecary, snacks and more; hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p,m.

• A second Jersey Mike’s is listed as “under development” at 201 W. Neider Ave. in Coeur d’Alene, while a Chipotle is in the planning stage for 167 W. Neider Ave. Both will join the new Raising Cane’s as Lake City Marketplace continues to grow. 

• NextGym, a new fitness studio at 2120 Northwest Blvd., Suite C in Coeur d’Alene, will celebrate its grand opening on April 2. The gym offers one-on-one personal training along with advanced recovery and performance technologies, including ARX adaptive resistance, Vasper, Hugo Pro PEMF, Power Plate, red light therapy and complimentary Seca BodyScan assessments for members. 

Ongoing Projects

• Super 1 Foods will anchor Prairie Crossing, a major shopping and mixed-use center under development at Highway 41 and Prairie Avenue.

• Spill the Tea and Benzo Box will soon open a combined brick and mortar location at the southwest corner of Greensferry Road and Seltice Way in Post Falls.

• A new location for Syringa Dental and Implants is under construction at 7533 W. Prairie Ave. Their current location at 1850 E. Seltice Way, Post Falls, remains fully operational. 

• Coeur Dance Arts is a new dance studio under development at 4131 Early Dawn Ave. Suite 105B, Post Falls. Classes should begin in May; check coeurdancearts.com. 

• A five-story, 173-room Hilton Dual Brand Hotel is planned for a 2.71-acre parcel of land off Lee Court and Appleway Avenue in Coeur d'Alene. The project's start and completion dates haven't been determined.

• A new facility for One Place Church is under construction at Prairie Avenue and Huetter Road. 

• American Universal Storage is planned for Spirit Lake along Highway 41, across from the Jifi Stop.

• Crunch Fitness is taking over the former Big Lots space at 101 E. Appleway Ave., Coeur d'Alene.

• A new location for The Man Shop, a regional chain of family-owned barber shops, is under construction at Highway 41 and Prairie Avenue.

• A nomnom location is under construction at 5231 W. Riverbend Ave., Post Falls. 

• Ross Point Gas Station, a fueling station and convenience store, is planned for 310 N. Ross Point Road in Post Falls.

• An Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) branch location is scheduled to open later this year across from Super 1 Foods along Highway 53 in Rathdrum.

• A new commercial building is planned for the Riverstone development at 1570 W. Tilford Lane and will bring at least one new dining option to the area. The 7,500-square-foot mixed-use building's targeted finish date is this summer.

• El Jefe's Grill in Coeur d'Alene is expanding with a new venture in Post Falls, called Jefe's Tacos and Tequila. An opening date is undetermined, but the restaurant is in the former Bullet Bar and Grill space.

• Les Schwab Tires is under construction at the northwest corner of Highway 41 and 16th Street in Post Falls.

• The 33-unit, mixed-use "Nonna" building across from Post Falls City Hall on Spokane Street is anticipated to be completed by October of 2026. 

• Construction is also underway on Rooted Social House at 310 N. Spokane St. The project is described as "an elevated space offering food, coffee, tea and entertainment in a social house setting." A completion date for Rooted has not been announced.

• A Jiffy Stop is under construction at Highway 41 and Lancaster Road in Rathdrum.

• A state-of-the-art pickleball facility called The Flying Pickle is coming to The Pointe at Post Falls at 140 N. Beck Road. Opening is anticipated by mid-2026.

• An AutoZone auto parts shop is under construction at U.S. 95 and Dakota Avenue in Hayden, next to Dirty Birdy Car Wash.

• Spokane-based Golden Rule Brake is under construction at 3627 N. Government Way, Coeur d'Alene.

• The Habit Burger & Grill is taking the place of the former Pizza Hut at 212 W. Appleway Ave. The chain, known for its "Charburgers," is eyeing an opening sometime in late spring or early summer 2026. This location will be a first for North Idaho.

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Have a tip on happenings in the local business world? Contact Bob at [email protected].